Democratic Republic of Congo: Economic and Political Overview
In this page: Economic Indicators | Foreign Trade in Figures | Sources of General Economic Information | Political Outline
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, is rich in natural resources, including cobalt, copper, hydroelectric potential, vast arable land, diverse wildlife, and the world’s second-largest rainforest. Armed groups have turned mineral-rich regions into conflict zones, fueling an illicit economy and costing the government an estimated USD 900 million in lost revenue after losing control of North and South Kivu. The unrest affects 14% of the population, with severe human rights abuses and over 400,000 new IDPs in January 2025, adding to the 4.6 million already displaced in the Kivu area. The conflict worsens poverty and weakens basic services. According to the World Bank, the DRC’s economy grew by 6.5% in 2024, down from 8.6% in 2023, driven by a 12.8% rise in the extractive sector. Copper and cobalt output increased by 12.1% and 30.1%, mainly due to the Kamoa-Kakula project. Non-mining sectors grew by 3.2%, supported by construction and services. Growth is projected to slow to 5.1% in 2025–27 as mining expansion eases, with non-mining sectors expected to pick up, reaching 5.9% by 2027.
Despite higher mining revenue and tax collection, rising security and wage costs widened the fiscal deficit to 2.0% of GDP in 2024, up from 1.7% in 2023. Spending rose slightly to 16.8% of GDP, with military outlays stable at 2.0% and capital spending increasing to 3.9%. Domestic revenue grew to 14.4% of GDP, helping offset spending, while the rest was financed through domestic and concessional external borrowing. Public debt remained low at 22.1% of GDP, with a moderate risk of distress. High public-sector wages and security costs are expected to push the fiscal deficit to 3.8% of GDP in 2025, before narrowing to 1.9% by 2027 through spending controls and improved tax collection. Defence spending may exceed 2.5% of GDP in 2025, potentially limiting funds for social services and poverty reduction. Meanwhile, the Congolese franc (CDF) depreciated by 8.7% in 2024, while inflation eased to 11.3% as the central bank tightened monetary policy, raising its key rate from 8.25% to 25% over three years. A strong external position and no central bank financing of the deficit is expected to stabilise the currency and bring inflation toward the 7% medium-term target (data from the World Bank).
The DRC is one of the poorest countries in the world, with around 72.9% of the population living in poverty (World Bank, 2024). It is among the lowest-ranked in the human development index and violence is frequent, especially in the east of the country. According to the latest data from the World Bank, in 2024, the unemployment rate in the country stood at 4.5% - a slight decrease from the previous year, when that rate was 4.6%. However, among the employed share of the population, a high percentage of workers have informal jobs. Lastly, the country’s GDP per capita was estimated at USD 1,810 in 2024 by the IMF, one of the lowest in the world.
| Main Indicators | 2023 (E) | 2024 (E) | 2025 (E) | 2026 (E) | 2027 (E) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (billions USD) | 66.92 | 72.48 | 79.24 | 84.46 | 90.11 |
| GDP (Constant Prices, Annual % Change) | 8.4 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.1 |
| GDP per Capita (USD) | 670 | 702 | 744 | 768 | 793 |
| General Government Gross Debt (in % of GDP) | 14.4 | 11.5 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 6.4 |
| Inflation Rate (%) | 19.9 | 17.8 | 9.2 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Current Account (billions USD) | -4.18 | -2.93 | -1.59 | -1.06 | -1.46 |
| Current Account (in % of GDP) | -6.3 | -4.0 | -2.0 | -1.3 | -1.6 |
Source: IMF – World Economic Outlook Database , Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
The agricultural sector represents 17.4% of GDP and employs 55.1% of the population (World Bank, latest data available). With 80 million hectares of arable land, four million hectares under irrigation, and numerous rivers rich in fishery resources, the DRC holds significant potential to emerge as a global agricultural powerhouse. Key cash crops include coffee, palm oil, rubber, cotton, sugar, tea, and cocoa, with some progress made in developing cocoa and coffee for export. Staple food crops consist of cassava, plantains, maize, groundnuts, and rice. However, commercial agricultural output remains limited, as most producers are still focused on subsistence farming. In 2024, the country produced an estimated 3.9 million tonnes of cereals, a 3.2% increase from 2023, according to FAO. This included 1.6 million tonnes of rice and 2.3 million tonnes of other cereals such as maize, sorghum, and millet. Despite the growth, production fell short of domestic needs, requiring cereal imports of around 770,000 tonnes in 2024, up from 745,200 tonnes in 2023. The FAO continues to classify the DRC as one of the most food-insecure countries in Africa and Central Africa.
The industrial sector contributes to 46.5% of GDP and employs 9.8% of the active population. The country is presented with vast natural resources, with the mining sector playing a pivotal role in the economy and being the main source of export earnings. The Katanga region is particularly rich in minerals, including copper, cobalt, zinc, cassiterite, manganese, coal, silver, cadmium, germanium (a fragile element used as a semiconductor), gold, palladium (a metallic element used as a catalyst and in alloys), uranium, and platinum. The DRC also has deposits of gas (methane) and diamonds. The country is Africa's largest producer of copper and the world's largest producer of cobalt. Manufacturing plays an important role in the country's economy, despite the lack of skilled labour and machinery, accounting for 18% of GDP (World Bank). According to the same source, mineral rents account for 28.8% of GDP, the highest ratio in the world. As per data from S&P, the mining sector generated USD 4.36 billion in 2024, making up about 41.3% of the country’s USD 10.62 billion total revenue.
The services sector contributes 33.5% of GDP and employs 35.2% of the working population. The banking system is dominated by foreign companies, but only a fraction of the Congolese have a bank account. It consists of the Central Bank of Congo (BCC) and 18 commercial banks, along with savings/credit cooperatives, microfinance institutions, financial transfer services, and one development bank named SOFIDE. Tourism is also underdeveloped due to the prevailing security problems in the country.
| Breakdown of Economic Activity By Sector | Agriculture | Industry | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment By Sector (in % of Total Employment) | 55.1 | 9.8 | 35.2 |
| Value Added (in % of GDP) | 17.4 | 46.5 | 33.5 |
| Value Added (Annual % Change) | 2.2 | 14.6 | 3.1 |
Source: World Bank - Latest available data.
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| Monetary Indicators | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congolese Franc (CDF) - Average Annual Exchange Rate For 1 MUR | 28.43 | 42.47 | 47.81 | 46.42 | 47.05 |
Source: World Bank - Latest available data.
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The Economic freedom index measure ten components of economic freedom, grouped into four broad categories or pillars of economic freedom: Rule of Law (property rights, freedom from corruption); Limited Government (fiscal freedom, government spending); Regulatory Efficiency (business freedom, labour freedom, monetary freedom); and Open Markets (trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom). Each of the freedoms within these four broad categories is individually scored on a scale of 0 to 100. A country’s overall economic freedom score is a simple average of its scores on the 10 individual freedoms.
Economic freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Index of Economic Freedom, Heritage Foundation
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The DRC is open to international trade, which represents 91% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). With 80 million hectares of arable land and over 1,100 minerals and precious metals, the DRC has the potential to become one of the major exporting countries on the continent and a driver of African growth. In 2023, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s top exports were dominated by refined copper, which accounted for 57.0% of the country’s total export value. Other key export products included cobalt at 11.6%, copper ore at 11.2%, raw copper at 6.8%, and crude petroleum at 3.8%. The DRC also held the position of the world’s leading exporter of cobalt, tin ores, copper alloys, and cobalt ore. On the import side, delivery trucks made up 3.6% of imports, while refined petroleum and stone processing machines each represented 2.5%. Sulphur accounted for 2.3%, and iron structures 2.2% (data OEC).
In 2023, the main export destinations for Congolese goods were China, which received 69.1% of total exports, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 7.0%, India at 3.3%, Spain at 3.2%, and Egypt at 2.6%. These figures highlight the country's strong trade dependence on Asia, particularly China. The primary countries of origin for these imports were China, which supplied 34.8% of the total, followed by Zambia at 12.4%, South Africa at 12.1%, India at 4.6%, and Belgium at 4.0% (data OEC).
Although the DRC's trade balance has traditionally been negative, rising raw material prices have supported export growth and contributed to a partial rebalancing of the current account, causing the trade balance to alternate between surpluses and deficits. According to figures by WTO, exports of goods totalled USD 16.4 billion in 2023, against USD 11.6 billion in imports. As per services, the DRC is a net importer (USD 5.26 billion in imports vs. a mere USD 41 million in exports). For 2023, the World Bank estimated the country’s trade balance to be in deficit by 2.8% of GDP.
In 2024, the DRC exported a record 3.1 million tonnes of copper, the highest in its mining history, according to the Ministry of Mines. Meanwhile, zinc exports surged by 225% in 2024, reaching 43,590 tonnes after two years of decline.
| Foreign Trade Indicators | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports of Goods (million USD) | 8,825 | 6,938 | 7,214 | 11,407 | 11,600 |
| Exports of Goods (million USD) | 13,382 | 14,230 | 21,412 | 15,672 | 16,400 |
| Imports of Services (million USD) | 2,260 | 2,691 | 3,948 | 0 | 0 |
| Exports of Services (million USD) | 142 | 144 | 169 | 0 | 0 |
| Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | -15.3 | 12.0 | 43.6 | 24.9 | 85.6 |
| Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 1.4 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 18.9 | 15.7 |
| Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 29.4 | 29.9 | 40.1 | 48.2 | 47.0 |
| Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 25.9 | 28.6 | 40.4 | 45.5 | 44.2 |
| Trade Balance (million USD) | 400 | 1,923 | 3,940 | 1,985 | 1,601 |
| Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | -1,719 | -624 | 161 | -2,945 | -4,030 |
| Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 55.2 | 58.5 | 80.5 | 93.7 | 91.3 |
Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank , Latest Available Data
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| 0.2 bn USD of services exported in 2021 | |
|---|---|
| 58.29% | |
| Business travelBusiness travel | 58.29% |
| 16.38% | |
| 10.40% | |
| 8.72% | |
| Other personal, cultural, and...Other personal, cultural, and recreational services | 8.72% |
| 2.54% | |
| Merchanting and other trade-related...Merchanting and other trade-related services | 2.54% |
| Other trade-related servicesOther trade-related services | 2.54% |
| 2.20% | |
| Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 2.20% |
| 1.47% | |
| n/a% | |
| 4.0 bn USD of services imported in 2021 | |
|---|---|
| 40.05% | |
| 24.69% | |
| Merchanting and other trade-related...Merchanting and other trade-related services | 24.69% |
| Other trade-related servicesOther trade-related services | 24.69% |
| 15.15% | |
| 6.68% | |
| 5.56% | |
| Business travelBusiness travel | 5.56% |
| 4.06% | |
| 3.20% | |
| Construction in the compiling...Construction in the compiling economy | 3.20% |
| 0.41% | |
| Other personal, cultural, and...Other personal, cultural, and recreational services | 0.41% |
| 0.20% | |
| Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 0.20% |
| n/a% | |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data
- Alliance des Démocrates pour le Renouveau et le Progrès (ADRP) – Centre-left, social democracy
- Alliance des Forces Démocratiques du Congo et Alliés (AFDC-A) – Centre-left, part of ruling coalition
- Avenir du Congo (ACO) – Liberal, pro-development
- Parti Lumumbiste Unifié (PALU) – Left-wing, Lumumbist ideology
- Alliance des Acteurs pour la Bonne Gouvernance du Congo (AABC) – Centrist, anti-corruption
- Alliance pour la Transformation Intégrale du Congo (ATIC) – Part of ruling coalition
- Autre Vision du Congo (AVC) – Liberal, rights-focused
- Convention des Congolais Unis (CCU) – Liberal, pan-Africanist
- Engagement pour la Citoyenneté et le Développement (ECiDé) – Opposition, led by Martin Fayulu
- Nouvel Élan (Nouvel Élan) – Centre-left, led by Adolphe Muzito
- Forces du Renouveau (Forces du Renouveau) – Centre-right, federalist
- Rassemblement des Écologistes Congolais – Les Verts (REC–Les Verts) – Green party, environmental focus
- Forces Novatrices pour l’Union et la Solidarité (FONUS) – Opposition, non-violent
- Alliance Nationale des Démocrates pour la Reconstruction (ANADER) – Liberal, formerly in transitional government.
The world rankings, published annually, measures violations of press freedom worldwide. It reflects the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists, the media and digital citizens of each country and the means used by states to respect and uphold this freedom. Finally, a note and a position are assigned to each country. To compile this index, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) prepared a questionnaire incorporating the main criteria (44 in total) to assess the situation of press freedom in a given country. This questionnaire was sent to partner organisations,150 RWB correspondents, journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists. It includes every kind of direct attacks against journalists and digital citizens (murders, imprisonment, assault, threats, etc.) or against the media (censorship, confiscation, searches and harassment etc.).
The Indicator of Political Freedom provides an annual evaluation of the state of freedom in a country as experienced by individuals. The survey measures freedom according to two broad categories: political rights and civil liberties. The ratings process is based on a checklist of 10 political rights questions (on Electoral Process, Political Pluralism and Participation, Functioning of Government) and 15 civil liberties questions (on Freedom of Expression, Belief, Associational and Organizational Rights, Rule of Law, Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights). Scores are awarded to each of these questions on a scale of 0 to 4, where a score of 0 represents the smallest degree and 4 the greatest degree of rights or liberties present. The total score awarded to the political rights and civil liberties checklist determines the political rights and civil liberties rating. Each rating of 1 through 7, with 1 representing the highest and 7 the lowest level of freedom, corresponds to a range of total scores.
Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House
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